Wellfleet voters approve water projects

Tuesday

WELLFLEET — Three fundamental infrastructure projects dealing with storm water, wastewater and drinking water passed at the annual town meeting last night.

WELLFLEET — Three fundamental infrastructure projects dealing with storm water, wastewater and drinking water passed at the annual town meeting last night.

Each of the three projects will need approval at the May 3 town election because they are funded through Proposition 2½ debt exclusions.

Voters easily approved borrowing $500,000 to fix stormwater drain problems along parts of Commercial and Main streets near Duck Creek. A federal grant of $375,000 would reduce what property owners would have to pay, and the project wouldn't go forward unless the grant was obtained.

Borrowing to fund more public water mains and water system connections were approved at a cost of $4.8 million, with a $2.4 million federal grant expected to reduce that expense. The water project would not go forward without the grant either, town officials said.

Voter approval came more slowly for $500,000 to purchase a five-year wastewater study. The study would help town leaders figure out how best to dispose of wastewater and protect Wellfleet Harbor, beyond the current method of individual property septic systems. The town has received approval for a state low-interest loan for the study, which Wellfleet Board of Selectmen chairman Dale Donovan said could lay out alternatives for town, in advance of possible mandates for oversized systems from state environmental authorities.

Other proponents mentioned the need to protect the harbor and drinking water, and the need to do the scientific research — rather than rely on anecdotes — about pollution. The study would also help the town be eligible for grant money, said resident Emily Beebe.

"The more information that we can have, the better," Donovan said.

But others questioned whether wastewater pollution actually existed in the harbor, and whether a $500,000 study might quickly develop into a large construction project. Another voter questioned the use of $500,000 for consultants when the data for the health of Wellfleet's estuaries and ponds could already be available — or soon will be — from state and federal studies.

Historic preservation was received somewhat favorably by voters as well.

Voters quickly approved $250,000 in Community Preservation Act money to preserve and maintain the Pond Hill School off Route 6 in South Wellfleet. The 1888-built community center is under the care of the South Wellfleet Neighborhood Association.

The town appropriated the entire amount with the caveat that $25,000 be immediately released to pay for design plans.

The association then has to raise $50,000 to allow for the rest of the public money to be released.

The repairs would include upgrades to the kitchen and fixing the roof and chimney. The school building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It was a tougher task, though, for voters to approve use of $100,000 in Community Preservation Act money to restore a Modernist-era cottage on Bound Brook Way, known as the Hatch Cottage, which is owned by the Cape Cod National Seashore.

The money would help the nonprofit Cape Cod Modern House Trust preserve the cottage, which was built in 1960. It is one of a handful of Modernist houses owned by the Seashore that have been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, according to Peter McMahon, who heads up the trust.

"This house is endangered, especially since it's been vacant and exposed to the weather," said McMahon.

Proponents of the article said that the town's Modernist houses are associated with important Bauhaus architects such as Marcel Breuer, and that supporting the houses' restoration could help the town's economy because they draw international interest.

Those opposed to the $100,000 grant said the money should go to causes like affordable housing.

Another voter opposed the expenditure noting that the money could be easily raised privately because of the "worldwide interest." Another objection was that the house wasn't old enough to be considered historic.

Voters approved a $13.6 million annual operating budget for the next fiscal year.

The town has about 2,530 voters and 314 turned out for the town meeting. Town meeting completed the 37 articles on the warrant at around 10:45 p.m.

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